An Italian astronaut posted a group of photos taken from space and attached several lines from a famous ancient Chinese composition, demonstrating her outstanding Chinese language ability that amazed Chinese Internet users and language experts.

Samantha Cristoforetti posted the photos and the Chinese sentences on her Twitter account on Wednesday during her mission at the International Space Station. The images in the group of photos are likely to be the day and night views of China’s Bohai Bay and capital Beijing from space. Attached to the photos were several lines from the Preface to Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion(《兰亭集序》), an ancient Chinese calligraphy masterpiece by famous Chinese calligrapher Wang Xizhi (303-361).  

Cristoforetti even gave an accurate translation of the line saying, “Looking up, I see the immensity of the cosmos; bowing my head, I look at the multitude of the world. The gaze flies, the heart expands, the joy of the senses can reach its peak, and indeed, this is true happiness.”

Cristoforetti was born in Milan, Italy in 1977 and became an official astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2009. She was also the first Italian female astronaut in space. Cristoforetti can speak Italian, English, German, French, Russian and Chinese. She is also a member of a liaison(联络) group with China from the ESA, whose task is to maintain contact with Chinese peers to determine and implement cooperation plans among astronauts. Cristoforetti visited China in 2017 and participated in a maritime survival drill in the Yellow Sea together with Chinese astronauts, which was also the first time Chinese and foreign astronauts held joint training in China.

Cristoforetti’s post was praised by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Thursday. “The Italian astronaut certainly has my like,” Mao said. “Exploring the universe has been mankind’s dream since ancient times. Countries around the world can and need to work together to look after the planet we all call home and make the world a better place for all.”

1.What can we know about the post?

A It was posted by the Italian astronaut in China.

B The images are the night views of China’s Bohai Bay.

C It shows the astronaut’s excellent Chinese language skills.

D It shows people both Italian cultures and Chinese cultures.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第一段第一句的“demonstrating her outstanding Chinese language ability”可知，这条推文展示了这位意大利宇航员杰出的汉语能力。故选C。

2.Who does “I”refer to?

A Cristoforetti.

B Wang Xizhi.

C Mao Ning.

D An ESA astronaut.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。“I”出现在第三段中，第三段是王羲之的《兰亭集序》中几个句子的英文译文，由此可知其中的“我”指的是王羲之。故选B。

3.Which title doesn’t belong to Samantha Cristoforetti?

A The first Italian female astronaut in space.

B A member of a liaison group with China from the ESA.

C A female astronaut who can speak six languages.

D A member in a maritime survival drill in 2009.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据第四段倒数第一句的“Cristoforetti visited China in 2017 and participated in a maritime survival drill in the Yellow Sea”可知，2017年（并非2009年）萨曼莎在山东烟台参加海上救生训练。故选D。

4.What’s Mao Ning’s attitude towards the post?

A Objective.

B Critical.

C Favorable.

D Skeptical.

解析：选C。 C推理判断题。根据最后一段“Cristoforetti’s post was praised by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning”以及“The Italian astronaut certainly has my like”可知，外交部发言人毛宁关注到了有关报道，她称赞了这位意大利女宇航员的推文。故选C。